In order to understand these verses we must first understand how Hebrews understood words like "heir".
Before I proceed I think how words and phrases are understood in English speaking cultures will help. The following is an example of how a commonly used phrase is understood in England vs. America. I read it on another board and found it a great example of why we need to take Hebrew culture into account when studying God's word.
If an Englishman visiting America was going to visit the sister of a friend, he would tell the friend he would "knock up" his sister meaning he would visit his friend's sister. In America this phrase carries a different connotation. Another example that can be used to highlight how the same word carries a different meaning in England vs. America is the word "pants", which in America means trousers but in England means underwear.
We also need to understand that one Greek word can express different concepts.
Now let’s look at Hebrews 1:2. In Hebrew culture the eldest son is the heir of his father’s estate and is considered the father’s equal in status. However, a father could “appoint” a younger son his heir, as Abraham did with Isaac and David did with Solomon. Now if the author of Hebrews viewed Jesus as God’s equal he would not have had to write that God “appointed” Jesus His heir.
The next Greek word that we need to look at is the word translated “by him” or “though him”, which can also mean “because of him”. The Greek word translated “universe” or “worlds” is used throughout Greek literature to mean “age”.
Now, if we remove the Trinitarian bias from how Hebrews is translated we can discern the author of Hebrews is not teaching Jesus is equal to God in nature or that Jesus created the universe. He is teaching the universe was created “because of” His predetermined plan for the salvation of mankind through faith in Jesus Christ who is God’s anointed one (Christ) and that God has now spoken to mankind through His Son (His agent) just as He spoke to the Hebrews in ages past through the prophets (His agents).
When we add vs. 3 to this discussion we read the Son was the exact representation of God’s nature, not that the Son has God’s nature. Also in Hebrews 2:18 and 4:15 we are told the Son was tempted as we are.
Now, if Paul wrote Hebrews as many Bible scholars believe to interpret Hebrews 1:1-2 to show the preexistence of the Lord as a divine entity who is really God contradicts what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 8:6, Ephesians 4:6, and 1st Timothy 2:5. This interpretation also contradicts what Peter preached in Acts 2 and 5 as well as all the OT Scriptures that are emphatic there is only one true God whose name is Yehovah and is also our Father.